Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif being received by the Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz. PHOTO: PID
The ongoing visit by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Riyadh is significant given the close links of friendship that tie Saudi Arabia and Pakistan together. As a staunch ally, the oil-rich Kingdom has pulled Pakistan out of trouble in times of need, offering both political and economic aid. Against this backdrop, the regal reception given to the prime minister on his arrival assumes significance. Alongside Saudi Arabia’s newly crowned monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the prime minister was greeted by the entire cabinet of the host country, including key figures such as Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, who many see as a central figure in decision-making.
The gesture made is important, demonstrating that Saudi Arabia wishes to build further upon its relations with Pakistan. This, of course, is something to be welcomed.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who served a long period in exile in Saudi Arabia after the military takeover in 1999, is paying his first official visit to the Kingdom since his government was voted into power in 2013. It is also his first visit since King Salman took the throne. Bilateral discussions between the two men, aided by a retinue of government members and advisers, have gone well. Riyadh is reported to have promised full support and backing to its ally. Several matters have been discussed and the outcome from this will no doubt surface over time. Islamabad, of course, at a time when it faces many internal perils, needs friends ready to stand by its side.
The visit also comes as both countries contemplate the threat from the extremist Islamic State (IS) organisation, which has carved out a swathe of territory, which it terms a caliphate in the Middle East. It is understood that Pakistani assistance in tackling IS-related security issues may be sought by Riyadh. Pakistan has offered it such help in the past. We see here a strengthening of the friendship that has evolved between the two nations over decades. We hope this can help both the countries work together to resolve their concerns and set up a more secure future for all by doing so.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2015.
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